That was the rule in previous world cups but I believe that was changed (because it’s a stupid rule) starting in 1998. Hopefully they haven’t re-introduced that rule. Then again, they made it so that getting a second yellow at any time in a 16 match CONCACAF qualifying process gets you a suspension so who knows.

I want to see us finish top of our group
Have our GK collect 1 or 2 cleansheets
Have our top scorer score 3-4 goals
Have at least 1 of our players win Man of the Match and later included in Team of the Tournament
I want to see our team score a shocking win like a 3-0 against the likes of Germany or Argentina

These are good top end goals to pencil in every four years. Except that last one. More realistically, we should hope to draw the top team in our group and beat the low seed 3-0. Since 02 each of those have been achievable at least once or near achievable.

I like what Klinsman said. To hear him laugh talking about JJ’s club situation was funny.
You play to win the games. That’s why we are taking a strong team even though we are qualified. Finish off the year strong, make a statement and the fans in KC deserve to see a strong team

As much as I hate to say it. A strong Mexico side and them performing well at the WC is good for the US. Though I wouldn’t mind seeing them sweat by having to play the All Whites.

Makes sense to play with as many of your top players as you have available. These are the last two fixtures where you’ll have an intense environment where the game means something (to your opponent at least), so might as well bring your best.

“But any time you miss players due to injury, especially players of such a high caliber as Clint or, or Michael Bradley, that is not a nice thing.” Haha I love the way he put that, I know it’s partly a reflection on English being his second (or third or fourth, I imagine he learned several languages from all his playing time), but I think also it’s just the way he is straight forward in the way he approaches things and answers questions. Still, funny.

No one can accuse JK of being shy about giving unheralded players their chance to show over the past two years. If he says it’s now time to focus on the A team for Brazil, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.

Well, the Schalke chief Clemens Tonnies today issued a warning to Jones, basically saying that all Jones has done since the beginning of season is talk the talk but has not been walking the walk and that if Jones does finally start contributing to the team he’s going to be either warming the bench or not dressing on game days. If Jones does not shape up and that happens, then we will see whether Klinsmann is still smirking about the club situation of perhaps his favorite player on the USMNT.

He did single Jones out but… he seems pretty angry at the team in general.
My German is rusty but it seems as if he is warning the team that everyone is expendable. That team is just a mess right now, they can either play well or tragically bad.

I agree that the team should be strong 1) to avoid being accused of trying to lose to hurt Mexico and 2) to have a good team for the fans. But you can have a strong team and still bring in a couple of fresh faces and I think Klinsmann is being foolish not to do this.

What a bunch of BS. The truth is that Klinsmann made a deal with the Mexicans. He would bring in a strong team in exchange for two Mexican mamacitas for a three way. You aint pooping anybody. But now having added Orozco, he just might want to throw the game against Panama.

The fact that so many players are injured shows that the best players are playing too many games. When Germany sent their B team to play in the recent friendly, Loew knew what he was doing. It boosted the US players’ self-esteem and kept the A team at home to rest for more important games. The trips across the ocean, every time there is a game, hurts the home leagues, and their coaches are not going to make allowances for that. Most young players don’t know what repetitive stress is. In addition the refereeing in this country is so bad that that causes concussions and other injuries that do not happen in, let’s say the BPL.

“The fact that so many players are injured shows that the best players are playing too many games. When Germany sent their B team to play in the recent friendly, Loew knew what he was doing. It boosted the US players’ self-esteem and kept the A team at home to rest for more important games”

Maybe but that is debatable. A lot of the injured guys are older or have been playing for a very long time notably Dempsey, Donovan, Gomez, Edu and Dolo. So you have to expect that. These guys play the bulk of their games for their clubs. There is not much the national team can do about that.

The US is not a star driven team that can win games with their best players turning it on and off as needed. To beat the big boys they need everyone on board with a total team effort.

And unlike Germany, the US does not have the luxury of having enough depth to be able give their first team time off in the same way you describe. Still, JK is very good about not hesitating to play”second stringers” or new guys who have shown him something. That is why the US now has unprecedented depth which allows the US to rest the regulars. JK seems pretty good at boosting the self esteem of the second stringers and all his players really. This is a confident team, more than it has been in a long time.

“The trips across the ocean, every time there is a game, hurts the home leagues, and their coaches are not going to make allowances for that. Most young players don’t know what repetitive stress is. In addition the refereeing in this country is so bad that that causes concussions and other injuries that do not happen in, let’s say the BPL.”

Where is your proof? No concussions and other injuries in the BPL? Then why does Petr Cech wear that goofy looking thing on his head? Wasn’t Holden hurt in the BPL?